The Tower Theatre Company
presentA Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare

Directed by Jean Carr & John Morton

One of Shakespeare's most popular and accessible works, this lyrical romp through an enchanted forest on a moonlit midsummer night shows how "the course of true love never did run smooth".

Four confused young lovers and a group of tradesmen rehearsing a play to celebrate the Duke of Athens' wedding are caught up in a feud between the King and Queen of the fairies. Magic potions and the inept interventions of a meddlesome fairy helper, Puck, create chaos and comic confusion.

Bottom, one of the tradesmen, is turned into an ass and Titania, the spell-bound fairy queen, is made to fall in love with him. The two young men, both in love with Hermia, are magically made to switch their passions to her friend Helena, hopelessly devoted to one of them. Unable to believe the love-sick pleas of either suitor she rejects them both.

Sleep, and more magic, reverse all the ills. As dawn breaks, Titania is reconciled with Oberon, her king. Bottom is made human again and the lovers are suitably united. They are all left wondering whether their memories of what happened that night were only dreams.

With the Duke and the young lovers married, the amateur actors finally perform their play before the court at the wedding revels. The fairies tidy up afterwards.